Discussing The Future of Botswana’s Small Stock Sub-Sector

Today, 2nd April 2025, the Business Botswana Boardroom was abuzz with energy as key stakeholders gathered to discuss the future of Botswana's small stock sub-sector. The meeting brought together prominent figures, including Mr. Thatayaone Mosepedi of the Small Stock Industry Federation of Botswana, Mr. Boiki Tema, Agriculture Sector Chairperson at Business Botswana, and Mr. Mpaphi Tsholofelo, Business Botswana’s Head of Policy and Research. Also in attendance were Ms. Edith Kirumba, the Country Manager of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), along with her team, all focused on shaping the future of the small stock production through strategic collaboration.The meeting was convened as part of IFAD’s ongoing mission to conceptualize a new investment in Botswana’s small stock sector. Key officials from IFAD were eager to explore potential synergies, particularly around data collection and market access. The primary goal was to engage with critical stakeholders early in the process to refine their analysis and gather valuable insights.

The atmosphere in the meeting was marked by mutual respect and forward-thinking collaboration. Mr. Mosepedi emphasized the importance of a coordinated approach to ensure new investments target key priority areas such as capacity building, forming associations, policy development, and data collection, all in alignment with the long-term goals of the industry. Mr. Tema highlighted the significant role small-scale farmers play in Botswana’s rural economy, stressing that investments must focus on sustainability and resilience. He also noted that market segmentation into small, medium, and large enterprises was essential for a comprehensive approach.Mr. Tsholofelo, with his extensive policy experience, reaffirmed Business Botswana’s commitment to driving agricultural growth, particularly in the small stock sector. He underscored the importance of aligning this new initiative with the Private Sector Development Strategy (PSDS), which provides an inclusive blueprint for sectoral productivity enhancement. He emphasized that this alignment would ensure the sustainability of any proposed investment.